Reducing Oil Separation in Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food.

Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is a shelf-stable, low moisture, energy dense medicinal food composed of peanut butter, vegetable oils, milk powder, a multiple micronutrient premix and sugar. RUTF is used by millions of children annually to treat malnutrition. After mixing, RUTF is a semisolid covered with oil. To produce a homogenous RUTF, hydrogenated vegetable oils are incorporated in small quantities. This study utilized a benchtop methodology to test the effect of RUTF ingredients on oil separation. An acceptable oil separation was <4%. This method compared 15 different vegetable oil stabilizers with respect to oil separation. The dynamic progression of oil separation followed a Michaelis-Menten pattern, reaching a maximum after 60 days when stored at 30 °C. Hydrogenated vegetable oils with triglyceride or 50% monoglycerides reduced the oil separation to acceptable levels. The additive showing the largest reduction in oil separation was used in an industrial trial, where it also performed acceptably. In conclusion, fully hydrogenated soybean and rapeseed oil added as 1.5% controlled oil separation in RUTF.

Ready-to-Use Supplemental Food for Nutritional Supplementation in Cystic Fibrosis.

Undernutrition is common in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is correlated with long-term outcomes, yet current nutritional interventions have not demonstrated consistent improvements in energy intake, and subsequently, growth. Development of novel nutritional interventions to increase energy intake is essential to improve clinical outcomes of individuals with CF. Ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF) is a modifiable, inexpensive, palatable, safe, and nutrient-dense food for treatment or prevention of acute malnutrition in developing countries. Utilizing a linear-programming tool we identified 6 RUSF formulations with sufficient nutrient density (495 kcal/100 g), protein, and fat for children with CF. Palatability was established by a taste-trial and affirmed by a 2-wk tolerability assessment that demonstrated consistent consumption and tolerance of the RUSF. Although preliminary, this study demonstrates the potential for developing RUSF as a nutritional supplement for increasing energy intake in children with CF.